12. General Electric
 Get Quote: GE
Financials: Latest Results
Rank: 12 (Previous rank: 12)
CEO: Jeffrey R. Immelt Employees: 323,000 Address: 3135 Easton Turnpike Fairfield, Connecticut 06828 Country: U.S. Website: www.ge.com GE touted its diversified portfolio as one that could weather any economic storm. Last year tested the conglomerate's claim and in the end, as Jeff Immelt acknowledged in his annual letter, "GE stock got hammered" -- a 57% drop in 2008. Despite unfavorable returns, the company still managed to take in $183 billion in sales, up almost 4% from 2007. By Immelt's count, the 130-year-old business has survived nine recessions and one depression, so it's ready to refocus and figure out how to buck up. On his list: reducing costs by $5 billion, primarily through layoffs and spending cuts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Industry: Diversified Financials
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| Company | 2008 Number of Employees |
|---|---|
| Wal-Mart Stores | 2,100,000 |
| China National Petroleum | 1,618,393 |
| State Grid | 1,537,000 |
| Company | 2008 Profits ($ millions) |
|---|---|
| Exxon Mobil | $45,220 |
| Gazprom | $29,864 |
| Royal Dutch Shell | $26,277 |
FAQ and methodology
All companies on the list must publish financial data and report part or all of their figures to a government agency. In the U.S., private companies and cooperatives... More
